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| THE HARSIMUS STEM EMBANKMENT |
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| Embankment Preservation Coalition |
| The Harsimus Stem Embankment is an elevated stone structure that once carried seven tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad to the Hudson River Waterfront. It runs for a half mile along 6th street in downtown Jersey City, and joins the National Historic districts of Hamilton Park and Harsimus Cove. The Embankment is itself listed on the State Register of Historic Places, is eligible for the National Register, and is a Municipal Landmark. The Embankment and streetscape will be a linchpin in a network of walkable, bikeable greenways within the City of Jersey City, and beyond. From north to south along Jersey Avenue, a main boulevard, the Embankment will serve as a midpoint in a series of parks, including Hamilton Park, Van Vorst Park, and Liberty State Park. From east to west, the Embankment will join the Hudson Waterfront Walkway with the Hackensack Meadowlands, via the Bergen Arches. A 2004 Northern New Jersey Route Study for the East Coast Greenway recommends this latter route as the main ECG pathway through Hudson County. The route has been endorsed by all six counties and 26 municipalities along it. |
| WHY A LANDMARK? Read Rick James' Nomination of the Embankment to the State and National Registers of Historic places. |
| PRESS/ ARTICLES |
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| March 29-April 11, 2008. Additional organizations ask STB to deny Conrail an abandonment exemption and call for a full environmental impact statement (EIS) in response to Conrail's inadequate Environmental Report (ER) and Historical Report (HR). Downtown associations signing on to a joint letter include Harsimus Cove Association, Hamilton Park Neighborhood Association, Paulus Hook Association, Van Vorst Park Association, Powerhouse Arts District Neighborhood Association, Newport Neighborhood Association, and The Village Association. Civic JC, East Coast Greenway Alliance, Friends of Liberty State Park, Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy, NY/NJ Baykeeper, and Preservation NJ also send separate letters. The Hudson County Division of Planning also objected. See the Planning Director's letter. Additional organizations are expected to participate in the weeks ahead. |
| April 7, 2008. City of Jersey City , Embankment Preservation Coalition, and Rails to Trails Conservancy file supplementary material with STB relevant to Conrail's notification that it intends to file for an abandonment exemption. A letter points out flaws in Conrail's environmental report (ER) and attaches a 1998 Dresdner Robin study that Conrail failed to provide to STB. See our filing. |
| March 21, 2008. City of Jersey City , Embankment Preservation Coalition, and Rails to Trails Conservancy notify STB of our intention to participate in any abandonment proceeding, and object to Conrail's request for an exemption, arguing that such exemptions are available only in noncontroversial cases. See our Notice of Intent to Participate, which includes a letter from Mayor Jerramiah Healy. |
| Coalition Updates |
| June 12, 2008. 2008 Embankment Preservation Coalition Benefit More than 170 attendees from all over the City and region attended dinner and cocktails at the Embankment restaurant. See the event gallery. |
| October 25, 2008. The Coalition's Annual Members and Supporters Meeting Click here for our event details & slideshow |
| 2008 Embankment Preservation Coalition Annual Appeal Please continue your generous support. Click here for the letter from our Membership Committee Chair. |
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| May 14, 2009. Hardship Exemptions Denied After 25 hours of testimony over multiple hearings, the Jersey City Historic Preservation Commission voted 6-0 to deny applications for hardship exemptions that, if granted, would have allowed demolition of the Harsimus Branch Embankment. The Coalition board thanks supporters of Embankment preservation who attended hearings. We were impressed by the intelligent questions and patience of the Commissioners throughout these long hearings, and are gratified by the decision. |
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| October 25, 2009. The Coalition's Annual Members and Supporters Meeting Click here for our event wrapup |
| 2009 Embankment Preservation Coalition Annual Appeal Please continue your generous support. Click here for the letter from our Membership Committee Chair. |
| Renew your EPC membership today! |
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| August 18, 2009. Zoning Board Affirms Historic Preservation Commission Decisions The Zoning Board of Adjustment affirmed the Historic Preservation Commission decisions that denied demolition permits for the Harsimus Embankment. More information here. |